Filling machine



w. J. MAXWELL 1,791,825

FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 10, 1931.

INVENTOR Willldiil fflfaz'well Z.

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Feb. 10, 1931. w, MAXWELL v 1,791,825

FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Wi'llzkrzzfg fgwell 1 ATTOR EY Feb. 10, 1931. w. J. MAXWELL 1,791,825

FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1929 4 Sheet's-Sheet 4 if INVEINTOR i1761110112 fflarwell Patented Feb. 10, 1931 ,U NIrE-n stares.

WILLIAM J. MAXWELL, OF IELU'SI -IING, NEW YORK FILLING MACHINEApplication fiIedJ'anuary 28, 1929. Serial No. 335,521.

This invention relates to filling machines, and has for its generalobject and purpose to provide-a machine of. large capacity for quicklyfilling cans or other containers with accurately measured quantities ofacomp0- sition or other commodity. t is a more particular object of thein-' vention to provide a machine of this kind embodying a continuouslymoving conveyer by which the cans or containers are moved in spacedparallel rows over. a supporting table orv platform, and means forautomatically discharging.measured quantities of a liquid compositionsimultaneously into the containers in each row during their travel oversaid platform.

It is also an important object of the invention to provide simple andnovel means for discharging the liquid from a hopper or containerinmeasured quantities which maybe easily adjusted to vary the quantityofthe liquid discharged and isalso positive and reliable in itsoperation and not likely to get out of order. r

It is also an object of my invention to provide a machine of the abovecharacter which consists of comparatively few'parts of simple mechanicalform, occupying relatively little floor space and which can be producedat nominal manufacturing cost.

With the-above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theimproved filling machine, and in theform, construction and relativearrangement of the several parts thereof as will be hereinafter morefully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings,andsubsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims;

In the drawings, wherein I- have illus- 4 trated one simple andpractical embodiment of the invention, and in which similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a filling machine constructedin'accordance with a. pre ferred form of my present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, certain parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken 7 on. the line 3:3 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is. an enlarged vertical sectional view through the liquidcontaining hopper illustrating the measuring and discharging means; y 7

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4, and 7 7 Fig.6 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2 showingthe float valve control means for maintaining a predetermined liquidlevel within the hopper.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the several operating parts of themachine may be mounted and supported upon a frame of suitableconstruction. As herein shown, this frame consists of similarside-members 5- rigidly connected with each other by the transverse bars6. Upon the upper ends of these frame members, the longitudinallyextending guide rails 7 are secured. Theseguide rails are in the .formof angle bars and to their inwardly extending flanges, the opposite sideedges of a horizontal sheet metal tab-1e or platform 8 are suitablysecured.

To the opposite end of each frame member 5 laterally projecting bearingarms 9 and 10 respectively, are secured. In these bearing arms theends.of the transverse conveyer shafts 11 and 12 are journalled, saidshafts being provided at their opposite ends with the sprockets 13 and14 with which the endless conveyer chains 15 are engaged. The links ofthese spaced conveyer chains at suitably spaced intervals are connectedby the transverse rods 16.v The .upper stretches of the conveyer chainsare guided over the surface ofthe platform 8 by the upstanding flangesof-the-guide rails Various means may be providedfor operating theconveyer above described, but for this purpose, I. have herein shown asuitable electric motor 17 having. its shaft connected with reductiongearing contained in the housing 18, and, the low speed shaft 19extending axially from the housing beyond. one side of the frame beingconnectedby the chain 20 with one end of a transverse shaft 21journalled in suitable bearings on the frame members 5. The other end ofthis shaft has a. small cog gear 22 fixed thereon which meshes with therelatively large gear 23 on one endof a second transverse shaft 24. Theother end of this shaft is connected by the chain 25 with the sprocket26 fixed to one end of the con veyer shaft 12. Suitable slack take-updevices indicated at 27 and 28 are respectively engaged with one stretchof the chains 20 and 25. By means of a conveniently mounted switch 29,electric current may be supplied to the motor 17. It will thus beunderstood that through the medium of they reduction gearing and thedriving connections between shaft 19 and the conveyer shaft 12, theconveyer will be driven at a very low speed and the upper stretchthereof will move slowly from left to right as indicated by the arrow inFig. 2 of the drawings over the table or platform 8.

To one of the frame members 5 a U-shaped supporting bracket is secured,the upstanding arms 30 of which are provided at their upper ends withsuitable bearing seats. To the opposite frame member a single bracketarm 31 is secured and is positioned transversely of the machineintermediate of the arms 30 and is likewise provided with a bearing seatat its upper end. These bearing seats of the arms 30 and 31 are adaptedto removably receive the pins or studs 32 and 33 respectively, which arefixed to the opposite ends of a supply hopper 34 to which the liquidmaterial is delivered through a pipe 35. The bottom wall 36 of thishopper is inclined longitudinally and downwardly in the direction ofmovement of the upper stretch of the conveyer and at the inner side ofthe front side wall of the hopper and at the bottom thereof a pluralityof spaced funnels 37 having upper open ends are arranged. These funnelsdischarge through openings in the bottom wall 36 into the outlet spouts38 fixed to the hopper wall 36. A constant level of liquid within thehopper 34 is maintained by means of a valve 39 interposed between thecontrol valve 40 in the feed pipe 35 and a fioat chamber 41 which is incommunication with one end of the hopper 34. The float 42 in thischamber has a threaded connection at 43 with the rod or stem 39 of thevalve 39. This float may thus-be readily adjusted on the rod 39 andretained in adjusted position by the nut 44 so as to effect the closingof the valve 39 by the rise of the liquid level in the chamber 41 andthe hopper 34. As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the liquid level L isslightly below the upper open ends of the funnels 37.

A rock shaft 45 extends transversely of the machine through the hopper34 and to said shaft within the hopper, spaced arms 46 are fixed at oneof their ends, said arms corresponding in number to the number of thefunnels 37. The other end of each arm 46 is connected by a swinging link47 with a measa uring pan 48. This measuring pan gradually decreases indepth from its rear closed end adjacent the shaft 45 to its forward openend and the pivotal connection 49 between the link 4'? and said pan islocated forwardly of the center of gravit of the pan.

In advance of the link 47 a yoke bar 50 is fixed at its ends to theopposite side walls of the pan 48 and is provided at its intermediateportion with an adjustable stop screw 51 adapted for contact with thelink 47 to limit the pivotal or tilting movement of the pan in onedirection'andthereby determine the degree of inclination of the bottomwall of the pan with respect to a horizontal plane when the pan islifted above the liquid level L.

Above each of the funnels 37 and suitably fixed to the front wall of thehopper 34, spaced rods 52 extend laterally beyond the inner side wall ofthe funnel and have their extremities downwardly curved as clearly shownin Fig. 4 of the drawings. These curved ends of the rods are adapted toengage the transversely projecting ends of a rod 53 which is fixed tothe bottom wall of the pan 48 adjacent the open end thereof.

To one end of the rock shaft 45 exteriorly of the hopper 34, an arm 54is fixed at one of its ends. The other end of this arm carries aswiveled guide member 55 through which one end portion of a rod 56 isfreely movable. head 57 which is swiveled upon a stud or pin 58projecting from the outer face of the gear 23 in suitably spacedrelation from the axis thereof. A collar 59 is fixed on the rod 56 andis adapted to abut against the lower side of the member 55 in therotation of gear 23 to thus move the arm'54 upwardly and rock the shaft45 in one direction.

There is also secured to the rock shaft 45 a second arm 60 whichprojects. downwardly from said shaft. A rod 61 is supported in suitablebearings 62 and is adapted to be manually rotated to position a blade orplate 63 on said rod in the path of movement of the lower end of the arm60 and thus sustain the arm 54 in its uppermost position and preventgravity downward movement of the pans 48 and rotation of the rock shaft45. Thus, the operation of these measuring pans may at any time betemporarily interrupted Without stopping the operation of the conveyormechanism. 7

Immediately beneath each of the outlet tubes or spouts 38 the table orplatform 8 is provided with an opening 64 and a trough 65 having aninclined base wall is mounted in the frame beneath these openings. Tothe lower end of the trough wall a suitable discharge tube 66 isconnected. Thus any drip from the tubes 38 will be collected in thetrough 65 and discharged through tube 66 into a suitable receptacle.

Preferably, the lower stretch of the conveyer is supported on roller 67mounted be- The other end of this rod has a this purpose.

tween bearing arms 68 at opposite sides of the machine frame. 1

In the operation of the machine as above described, the'cans or othercontainers indicated at C are arranged in rows between the spaced rods16 of the conveyer. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, Ihave shown four such cans in each row, but it will be obvious that themachine may be built so as cessively brought into position beneath the Irespective spouts or tubes 38.

The operation of the mechanism is so timedthat when the individual cansare in apprentmately the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 withrespect to the spouts '38, the several pans 48 have been lifted from thedotted line position shown in said figure to the full line position.During this lifting of the pans, as soon as they are carried above thelevel of the liquid, the surplus liquid drains off from each pan, andthe quantity of liquidremaining therein is of course, determined by theinclination of the bottom wall of the pan with respect to a horizontalplane which is definiteestablished by the contact of the adjustable stopscrews 51 against the links 47. In the continuedupward movement of thepans 48, the rods 53 carried thereby are brought into engagement with;the under sides of the curved ends of rods 52 and said pans are rockedor tilted relative to the links 47 to ubstantia-lly the position shownin full lines in Fig. t so that the liquid will flow from the pans intothe several funnels 37 and be discharged therefrom through tubes 38 intothe respective containers C. The diameter of the containers C and thespeed of movement of the conveyer is such that there is ample time forthis operation to take place and for all of the liquid contained in thepan 4:8 to be discharged therefrom and delivered into the respectivecontainers. Thus, an absolutely uniform quantity of liquid is suppliedto each of the cans or containers. Nhen the measuring pans are liftedfrom the liquid in the hopper 8%, the float valve 39 immediately opensand the normal level of the liquid in said hopper is restored. Afterthe"discharge of the liquid from the pans 38 and in the downwardmovement of the rod 56 through the swiveled member on the end of arm54:, the measuring pans 48 will drop by gravity and return to theirsubmerged positions in the liquid in the hopper 34 as shown in dottedlines in Fig. e of the drawings.

The machine herein described has been designed more particularly forautomatically filling cans with shoe polish and has been found veryserviceable and satisfactory for In such use of the machine,

the polish composition is supplied. to hopper 3 2 in a' heated conditionso that it will flow freely. After delivery ofthe liquid composition tothe'containers C,- it congeals or solidifies upon'cooling. However, itwill of course, be apparent that the machine is not necessarily limitedto suchuse but may also be adantageously employed for the filling ofcans or other containers with any other liquidcommodities. Whenit'becoines necessary to adjust the stop screws 51 of the measuringdevices, or to clean or repair this partof the mechanism, this maybeconveniently done by first uncoupling the inlet connection between thefeed pipe 35 and the float chamber ll and then bodily lifting andremoving the hopper from the supporting arms 30 and 31. The member 55 onthe end of arm 54 will of course, become disengaged from the end of therod 56. After the desired adjustments have been made, or the cleaning ofthe apparatus com-- pleted, the hopper may then be readily relaced andagain connected with the feed pipeor a or). V

In the foregoing description and in the drawings, 1 have shown anembodiment of "my present improvements which are entirely practical forthe purpose in v ew, and in which the several cooperating elements'areof relatively simple mechanical form so thata machine of thisconstruction may be produced at comparatively smallmanufacturing cost.

However, it is to be: understood that since the essential features of mypresent vdisclosure might also be exemplified in numerous othermechanical structures, I reserve the privilege of resorting to all suchlegitimate changes therein as may be fairly incorporated 1 within thespirit'and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a filling-machine, a p1atform,'a conveyer movable over-saidplatform andhaving means for retaining containers in spaced transverserows for progressive movement from one end to the other of the platform,a liquid composition containing hopper mounted above said conveyer,operating means for the conveyer, and means within" the hopper geared tothe conveyer operating meansand actuated in timed relation thereto todeliver the composition in measured quantities from said hopper into thecontainers in each row without interruption in the movement thereof,said meansincluding a plurality of inde- V pendently adjustable devicesfor variably regulating the quantity of the composition delivered toeach container independently of the remaining containers. v

2. In a filling machine, means for delivering a liquid composition inmeasured quantities into a container including, in combination withahopper, a measuringpan normally submerged in the compositioninaterial,means pivotally connected With said pan to lift the same above the levelof the composition, means for limiting the pivotal swinging movement ofsaid pan relative to said lifting means under the Weight of the materialin one direction, adjustable means associated With said pan forpositioning the same relative to the lifting means to variably regulatethe quantity of composition material retained in the pan, a dischargingfunnel having its receiving end above the level of the compositionmaterial, and means for tilting said pan relative to the lifting meansto dis charge the contents thereof into said funnel.

3. In a filling machine, means for delivering measured quantities of aliquid composition into containers including in combination With ahopper for the composition material, a rock shaft extending through saidhopper, an arm fixed to the rock shaft, a measuring pan normallysubmerged in the composition material, a link pivotally connected Withsaid arm and the pan for lifting the pan in the movement of the shaft inone direction, adjustable stop means carried by the pan and engaging thelink to limit pivotal movement of the pan under the Weight of thematerial and determine the quantity of material retained in the pan, areceiving funnel, and means for tilting the pan relative to said link asthe pan is lifted to discharge the pan contents into said funnel.

4. In a filling machine, means for delivering measured quantities of aliquid composition into containers including in combination with ahopper for the composition material, a rock shaft extending through saidhopper, an arm fixed to the rock shaft, a measuring pan normallysubmerged in the composition material, a link pivotally connected withsaid arm and the pan for lifting the pan in the movement of the shaft inone direction, adjustable stop means carried by the pan and engaging thelink to limit pivotal movement of the pan under the Weight of thematerial and determine the quantity of material retained in the pan, areceiving funnel, a transverse rod fixed to the bottom Wall of the panadjacent one end thereof, and means fixed to a wall of the hopper andengaged by said rod as the pan is lifted to tilt the pan relative tosaid link and discharge the pan contents into said funnel.

5. In a filling machine, means for delivering measured quantities of aliquid composition into containers includingin combination With a hopperfor the composition ma terial, a rock shaft extending through saidhopper, an arm fixed to the rock shaft, a measuring pan normallysubmerged in the composition material, a link pivotally connected Withsaid arm and the pan for lifting the pan in the movement of the shaft inone direction, adjustable stop means carried by the pan and engaging thelink to limit pivotal movement of the'pan under the Weight of thematerial and determine the quantity of material retained in the pan, areceiving funnel, means for tilting the pan relative to said link as thepan is lifted to discharge the pan contents into said funnel, means foractuating said shaft to lift the pan, and manually adjustable means tocoact with a fixed part on said shaft and sustain the measuring pan inan inoperative position above the level of the composition materialWhile permitting of the continued operation of the shaft actuatingmeans.

6. In combination with a material receiving hopper having a dischargeoutlet the open end of Which is above the level of the material in thehopper, means for delivering the material in measured quantities in thehopper into said discharge outlet, said means including a rock shaft, ameasuring pan, means suspending said pan from the rock shaft for tiltingmovement relative thereto, said pan being tilted by the weight of thematerial therein as the pan is lifted above the material in the hopperin the rocking movement of said shaft in one direction, adjustable meansfor limiting such tilting movement of the pan to variably regulate thequantity of material retained therein, and

means for tilting the pan in the opposite direction in the continuedelevation of the pan to discharge the pan contents into the open end ofthe discharge outlet of the hopper.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name hereto;

WILLIAM J. MAXWELL.

